In the quest for higher education and training, students and the public in the United States sometimes
encounter "degree mills" - dubious providers of educational offerings or operations that offer certificates and degrees that may be considered bogus. They may also encounter
"accreditation mills" - dubious providers of accreditation and quality assurance that may offer a certification of quality of institutions without a proper basis.
Degree mills and accreditation mills mislead and harm. In the United States, degrees and certificates
from mills may not be acknowledged by other institutions when students seek to transfer or go to graduate school. Employers may not acknowledge degrees and certificates from degree mills
when providing tuition assistance for continuing education. "Accreditation" from an accreditation mill can mislead students and the public about the quality of an
institution. In the presence of degree mills and accreditation mills, students may spend a good deal of money and receive neither an education nor a useable credential.
